The Toronto Maple Leafs have officially parted ways with head coach Craig Berube following a disastrous 2025-26 NHL season. Newly appointed general manager John Chayka confirmed the decision Wednesday morning, framing it as a key step in a broader organizational reset after the team missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Berube, who spent two seasons behind the bench, finished with an overall regular-season record of 84-62-18 across 164 games. His debut campaign was a standout success—Toronto posted a 52-26-4 record, won the Atlantic Division, and pushed the Florida Panthers to seven games in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But the 2025-26 season told a very different story, as the Leafs spiraled to a last-place finish in the Atlantic with a 32-36-14 record and just 78 points.
In a statement following the coaching change, Chayka was careful to praise Berube while explaining the rationale behind the move. "Craig is a tremendous coach and an even better person," Chayka said. "This decision is more reflective of an organizational shift and an opportunity for a fresh start than it is an evaluation of Craig. We are grateful for his leadership, professionalism and commitment to the Maple Leafs organization and wish Craig and his family nothing but the best moving forward."
Reports throughout the season pointed to growing tension between Berube's demanding physical system and Toronto's skilled roster. Rumors of locker-room disconnect and a noticeable offensive decline only added to the pressure. Injuries also played a major role—veteran defenseman Chris Tanev appeared in just 11 games, while Auston Matthews suffered a severe MCL injury that ended his season early. The departure of Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights had already left a significant gap in playmaking and scoring depth, and the team ranked near the bottom of the league defensively, allowing 3.60 goals per game.
The Maple Leafs' direction shifted dramatically when Chayka replaced Brad Treliving as general manager earlier this month, and Mats Sundin returned to the organization as Senior Executive Advisor of Hockey Operations. Toronto's recent draft lottery victory—securing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft—reportedly accelerated plans for a full rebuild and ultimately sealed Berube's fate.